Winding Down With the Hodgepodge

 

Joyce asks the questions, and we provide the answers. See how others answered at From This Side of the Pond.

1. What's one thing you want to get done before the calendar flips to a new year?

Absolutely not one thing. I have several things I want to do after the new year, like get serious about cleaning up the garage, but nothing before.

2. What's something that brought a smile to your face this year?

Several things....like this:

Hanging with 3 of my sisters in the oldest pub in Kinsale, Ireland

Or this:

Boston with my brother & BIL

And definitely this:

Private concert in Schoebrunn Palace in Vienna. The music was solely by Austrian composers and was played in the ballroom of the Habsburgs' summer palace.

3. What do you like on a cracker? Do you have a favorite cracker variety? 

Cheese or even peanut butter. I like peanut crackers if my stomach is upset.

4. Do you have plans for ringing in the new year in a fun or special way? Are you typically awake at midnight on the last day of the year? 

I have no plans at all.  Just a quiet night with the dogs. Last year I was in bed by 10:00 but the fireworks going off at midnight had the dogs scared so I was awake...even though I didn't want to be.

5. What are three words that describe your 2024? 

Travel, fun, healing

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I have so many random thoughts going through my head that I don't know where to begin! So, I'll end this post with something that I saw on an Etsy site:

Merry Christmas!

Milking the Wednesday Hodgepodge

 

Joyce asks the questions, and we provide the answers. See how others answered at From This Side of the Pond.

1. What's one task you'd like a little Christmas elf to sneak in and take care of tonite? 

The Christmas Tree. 

2. What's your biggest challenge during the holidays? 

This year, it's just being motivated. 

3. Are you a cookie baker this time of year? If your year had to be summed up in the shape of a cookie cutter what shape would it be? 

I'm not so much a cookie baker as a candy maker. The cookie-cutter shape would be a tree because through the storms and sun, I've continued to live life this year (and had fun-most of the time).

4. Santa likes milk with his cookies. Do you like milk? What kind of milk is on tap in your house? (whole, 2%, skim, almond, oat, etc). What's the last thing you made that called for milk? 

I love milk. I used to only use skim milk, but isn't whole just so much better? I made oatmeal yesterday morning using milk.

5. Share one favorite line from a Christmas carol or holiday tune? 

May your days be merry & bright.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I took a big step yesterday: it was the first time I went to the movies by myself. Really, when you think about it, it's not that big of a deal. I mean, you sit in a dark theater and don't talk during the movie, so what's the big deal? Well, it's not a big deal at all.

Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Spy, Assassin was incredible. If you haven't seen it, I would highly recommend it. Especially if you're as obsessed with WWII as I am. You know how it's going to end, but you're still riveted to the screen, hanging on every word. There were a couple of things that really hit home: The crucifixes being taken down, the statues being destroyed. The people being taken in by Hitler and thinking they could just vote him out in the next election. It's definitely something to think about.

2024 Ireland Adventures- Transition Day

The day following the last day of the Great Southern Tour was a day for goodbyes but also a hello. My sisters went to the airport to head home but I wasn't finished with Ireland yet.  (Is anyone ever finished with Ireland?) While we were enjoying Glendalough and the Wicklow Mountains, my SIL (M) was on an airplane headed to Dublin. We had just a few minutes all together, and then my sisters left the hotel. 

Sidenote: M & I went to Ireland in 2015. I didn't know much about Ireland back then, but there was just something about that little country. 

One quick selfie before we split up

M & I had a whole day before our next adventure began, so we had some choices: stay in Dublin and rest, or head north to Howth or south to Dún Laoghaire? I left it up to M since I was acclimated to the time and she had only arrived. She was a real trooper and suggested we go in search of some fish & chips in Howth. 

We found the train station without a hitch; it was just a short walk from the hotel. We figured out how to use the self-serve machine for a ticket, but when we tried to put it in the turnstile, nothing happened. Apparently, on the weekends you can ride the train out of Dublin for free but have to pay to return. (I'm not sure if that's actually true, but we got on the train without anyone asking for a ticket.)

Once we got there, we strolled around the port area. It was fairly busy and windy, so we just took our time and enjoyed being there. I was told that Howth is the place to get the best fish & chips, so I stopped a local and asked for a recommendation. We were a few minutes too early for fish & chips, so I opted for a cheese toasty. 

This was the place recommended to us. While I didn't have the fish & chips, the food was still good.

Map of Howth

Howth Harbor Lighthouse was built in the 19th century and was in use until 1982.

From the pier looking back at the town

Howth has been a fishing port since the 14th century. 

1 of 3 wood statues by Richie Clarke

Another wood statue on the side of the hill by Richie Clarke

The 3rd wood statue by Richie Clarke depicts the dragon head bow of a ship

The ruins of St. Mary's Abbey. Unfortunately, we didn't make it to walk around.

Not even 24 hours together, we were at the Guarda Station.

The last picture should be explained. I needed to use the ATM but when we found one, someone's card was still in the slot. We popped into the tourist office and she suggested we turn it in at the Guarda Station. Hopefully, it got back to the owner.

Howth was a good day trip out of Dublin. Personally, I'm not a huge fan of Dublin so I was glad M wanted to get out of there. We had pretty much "been there, done that". I prefer to get out of the big cities into the small towns and villages. Howth is definitely a place I would love to return to. There is a Cliff Path that supposedly has some amazing views and I would like to get a closer look at the ruins of the Abbey. 

We had dinner back at the hotel and then went to our room. It was an early night because we had to be up and ready to leave the next morning. Northern Ireland and new adventures await!